St Jude Medical has launched Unify Quadra cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) in Japan.
The Unify Quadra CRT-D features four electrodes to provide physician with more pacing options and the ability to pace closer to the base of the left ventricle for the treatment of heart failure.
The quadripolar pacing electrodes also facilitate physicians to pace around scar tissue found in the heart and select alternatives pacing sites for implanted patients to avoid unintentional stimulation of the diaphragm from pacing the phrenic nerve resulting in hiccup-like symptoms.
Tokyo Women's Medical University cardiology department associate professor Morio Shoda said the Unify Quadra is a technological advance for patients that need cardiac resynchronization therapy.
"With quadripolar technology, I have more pacing options available, which improves the probability for successful response to the therapy," Shoda added.
St Jude Medical president William Phillips said the many benefits of quadripolar pacing have been demonstrated by implanters around the world and reported in a large number of published studies.
"We believe that this small and innovative CRT system has the potential to redefine the standard of care in resynchronization therapy for heart failure patients," Phillips added.
